Some Essential Wolof Phrases

Phrases/Dialogs 187 comments

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*** See an updated list here: Basic Wolof Phrases 2012 ***

“Expressions Ouolof Essentielles”

Na nga def. – Hello. (singular)
Na ngeen def. – Hello everybody. (plural)
Jaam nga fanane. – Good morning.
Jamm nga yendoo. – Good afternoon.
Fanaanal jaam. – Goodnight.
Ba beneen. – Goodbye.
Su la nexee. – Please.
Jai-rruh-jef. – Thank you.
Agsil. – You’re welcome. (singular)
Agsileen ak jaam. – You’re all welcome. (plural)
Baal ma. – Sorry./Pardon.
Wau. – Yes.
Deh-det. – No.
Jaam nga am? – Have you peace? (How are you?)
Jaam rek. – Peace only. (I’m fine.)
Yow nag? – And you?
Naka-nga sant? – What’s your first name?
Maa ngi tudd … . – My name is … .
Fan nga dahk? – Where do you live?
Fan nga joghe? – Where are you from? (singular)
Fan ngeen joghe? – Where are you all from? (plural)
Maa ngi joghe les USA. – I’m from the USA.
Deg nga Angale? – Do you speak English?
Deg nga Faranse? – Do you speak French?
Angale rekk laa degg. – I speak only English.
Degg naa tuuti Faranse. – I speak a little French.
Mahn deggumah Wolof. – I don’t speak Wolof.
Mahn deggumah Faranse. – I don’t speak French.
Degguma. – I don’t understand.
Dama bahggoon … . – I’d like … .
Fahn la … ? – Where is … ?
Soreh na? – Is it far?
Cha kanam. – Straight ahead.
Chammoon. – Left.
Ndeyjoor. – right.
Dugghal waay! – Get in!
Lii naata? – How much is this?
Seer na torob. – It’s too much.
May ma jaam! – Leave me alone!

187 comments

    2. hey there !!

      can anyone please translate this for me ? it’s wolof frm senegal.
      “beggue sokhena si amal jam ak salame ak weer ak kheweul diarama”
      i just found “happiness” for begue ..and i have no idea about the rest..though i heard diarama a lot..

      thanks a lot for your help

      Reply

      3. this goes to diagne:

        jerejeff.
        thank you so much. na how would i say dat nah?
        cool, am here quite often but never saw your answer.

        so then “begue boy(?) si amul jamm” … wish you happiness boy? translated: happiness boy ….?

        would be happy if u still hang around and answer me 😉
        this language is so very beautiful and i am meeting many people talking it and would like to understand them better to help them better….

        thanks again…looking forward to read something

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      Reply

  5. I have a Senegalese friend who has just died…I am an artist and would like to include an appropriate farewell phrase in a picture I am painting is there someone who can tell me what I should say to my friend and his family to say goodbye?

    Reply

  6. Danny, you’re probably already done with that painting but I was going to say you might include, rather than words, items in the picture that were significant to your deceased friend.

    African cultures, like many others, have had a great portion of their culture and traditions preserved in song and glyphs.

    Its just a thought.

    Reply

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  7. Hi people,
    I really want to know what is the meaning of this :

    Boul ma sene, boul ma guiss madi re nga fokni mane
    Khamouma li neka thi sama souf ak thi guinaw
    Beugouma kouma khol oaldine yaw li neka si yaw
    mo ne si man, li ne si mane moye dilene diapale

    Please if anyone can help he can contact me : ristovc@yahoo.com
    Thanx

    Reply

    1. These are Youssos Ndour lyrics from 7 Seconds w/Neneh Cherry.

      This is what he is saying:

      Don’t see me from a distance
      Don’t look at my smile
      And think that I don’t know
      What’s under and behind me
      I don’t want you to look at me and think
      What’s in you is in me
      What’s in me is to help them

      Can anyone break down some of the individual Wolof words for us?

      Reply

    2. Kristina, ačiū tikrai dėl to pasidžiaugimo pasidžiaugt tai pasidžiaugiam, pasižavim, sušylam, bet kai vkiass viduje vyksta, iš kur gali autorius apie tai žinot? Pvz aš į tavo virtualias erdves ne kartą buvau užsukus, ir su didžiausia šypsena, ir taip daug visko faino radau, bet ko gero nesu net nieko sakius apie tai. Visos šypsenos į monitorių.

      Reply

  9. I visited senegal for about 4 months a few years ago.

    Im still very interested and facinated with the language and country it self . Now I’ve been trying to brouse the web to find a phrase that i used pretty often yet i cant find a proper transulation for it , the phrase was légé légé ” dont start flaming me plse im a native speaker im from belgium i know the spelling may be off by miles 🙂

    From the phrases that i can remember ( like said above plse dont flame me for typos 🙂 ) – i was 19 when i made this trip so its been a while.

    nellow nah boebah? : did u sleepwell?
    defal danke : chill out
    Ghamna gelbi rafet : do you know any pretty ladys
    ki ke le wi : whos there , hello

    dama sono : im tired
    dama rew : im hungry
    dama dof : im stupid
    dama mara naam : im thursty

    samagol : lady of my hearth
    danga rafet : ure beautiful
    de mal a dofsi yow : im crazy about you

    ana wa kurge? : how are things at home?
    nakka a fairbie? : what you up too?
    foj dem? : where you going?
    nejdem : we are going
    boebah : good
    boebaha very good
    boemak : big
    boemak a mak : bigger
    boendow : small
    boendow a dow : smaller
    jogma : give it too me
    amoel challies : i got no money
    tutu rek : just a little
    bahné : its ok
    ko kan la? : who is there?

    thats is about the most i can remember at the moment , hope this helps a little

    Reply

      2. how do u say no sex in wolof my boyfriend is from senegal and i told him i would find out how to say that because he wont teach me that lol

  13. Na nga def,

    Hey Lisa, there is a pronunciation tab at the top of this page. Is that useful?

    Jai-rruh-jef for this site. I am trying to learn Wolof to speak to friends in Australia.

    Ba beneen,

    Gnat

    Reply

  16. legge legge means now now. Mangi dem supermarket, mangenyo legge legge. I am going to the supermarket and will be back very soon. Mangenyo si kanam (tutti) I will be coming back later. Si kanam tutti- see you later- ususally just si kanam.
    Nak sa doogoo da? Mungee dalla! It’s a gambian double entendre! They say the person asking the question knows the exactly what the implication is!

    Reply

  17. nama nala – i miss you
    maalalo – i miss you more (i miss you the most)

    I learned these from my mother & sister in laws while in Senegal, they would always say this when I would leave for the day with my husband. Then they went somewhere and when they came back my husband’s mother said nama nala Marie, and when I replied Malalo, she was so happy.

    Reply

  18. I think it should also be said that Gambian Wolof and Senegalese Wolof are quite different (different dialects and pronounciations). I learned this when I first met my husband and had found a free online dictionary that I printed out from a missionary group website. Well when I brough it home to show my husband, he shook his head and said “if you come to Senegal and speak this wolof to my family, they will think you’re crazy” He obviously was joking with me, but it is rather different.

    Reply

    1. Gambian Wolof and Senegalese Wolof only differ slightly. Different materials use different spelling systems which can sometimes cause confusion for those who are used to a particular spelling system. Your best bet for a free online dictionary is the one put out by the Peace Corps which is a printable/downloadable PDF…also Firicat.com is a searchable dictionary. Both contain errors but are the 2 best free ones that I’m aware of.

      Reply

  19. Hi,

    Iam doing a project in Senegal, and I would like to know the correct translation of the word Welcome in Wolof. Is there anybody who can help me out?

    Thanks
    Rianne

    Reply

  23. Hi i was just wondering i’ve been looking up how to say i love you in wolof and while i was in senegal i was under the impression that it was boga nala but when i was searching how to spell it i found it as Nob naa la. which one is right? also How do you say “my sister”

    Reply

    2. Beugg is to like.. beugg na sama yay ( I love my mother); beugg na thiepp ( I love/like rice).
      Nopp nalla is I love you ( you say it to someone you are intimate with, or you wanna be intimate with).
      Clearly there’s a big difference between Beugg & nopp.

      Reply

  24. @kath mayall – thanks so much, I’m writing letters back to my Gambian “family” and couldn’t remember “Naka sa doogooda?”. This is proof that really, anything is available on the internet.
    Arame: buga naa la translates to “i want you” or “i like you”
    nop naa la is “i love you”
    i could be wrong but I’d say these terms are both reserved for the opposite sex.
    my sister – there is no specific term for sister, you have to refer to siblings as younger “suma raka” or older “suma mag” and then add male or female, so if you’re speaking to your younger sister you’d say “suma raka bu jigen”, whereas your elder sister would be “suma mag bu jigen” (translates directly as “my older sibling that is female”)

    Reply

  25. It was fun finding this site. I was in Senegal from 93-94 and miss Wolof. I lived in Koussanar ci weto Tambacunda. (near Tamba) Wolof ak Senegal Bak na! (I still cannot spell in Engish, French or Wolof)

    Reply

  31. Thank you it was helpfull to read this because I try n teach myself wolof because my husband doesnt want to teach me I know a bit what I learnd by just listning but it would be good if I could get a phrase book to help me or a web page

    Reply

  32. I have some more, my husband is a Gambian.and Im spanish!! .the words are not well written, I write like I sound like my… i hope can help a little!!!

    Suma Hol = my heart
    Nanga def = How are you
    Mangui fi = Im Be here
    Nanga no tu da = hOw is your name?
    Danga Sona = you are tired?
    Danga Dof = You are crazy!!!
    Nakasubasi = Good Morning
    Suma raka = Brother
    Bagna = is Ok
    Ñiatala? How cost???
    Torop= so much
    tuti rek = little
    Danga refet = you are pretty
    Man = I
    Yow = You
    Ko kan La = Who are you?
    suba = tomorrow
    am = Take
    pichidoma = owl
    fan la = where is???
    kañudem = let’s go
    jerejef = thank you
    Damalob = I love you
    lo wah = what you say?
    suma jekkar = My husband
    Suma jabbar = My wife
    waaw = yes
    dedet = no
    Pourlan = why?
    Dafa tuki = travel is
    Nekufi =Do not be
    Jahuma = i dont know
    lu geo? Wha happen?
    Meima = Gimme
    Danga ñao = You Are ugly!
    Balal ma = Im Sorry
    togal fi = sit here
    yogal = Up
    Namana la = i miss you
    tanga = Hot
    Naka sa Family ? How is the family??
    Nopil = Shut up
    Merby = mother

    Reply

  37. hello everyone! i just needed some help to say” I hope you are having a wonderful day” in wolof or fulani. please help it would be of great assistance… i hope lol

    Reply

    1. I posted a sentence earlier but no one had replied. I am looking for help to translate a sentence from wolof to English. Please cam you help if you can. The sentence was comment left on a picture..

      Chon nice na cherie abdoulie?

      Look forward to a reply..

      Reply

      1. wowa nice framingI like iriemtnd me of a nice and sometimes dangerous hobby I used have in the past in Paris.Down along parking lot ramp at full speed with inline skatting.Can i print it for my own usaged ?

      1. hey do you know the meaning of this phrase “akh ki dou moromou domou khadj bobou” can u help me please..i really need it..thank you

  45. woloffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff hahahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply

  46. woloffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff ya nekhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hey hey heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

    Reply

    2. Jere-jef is ‘thank you’. Torop is ‘very much’ (from French ‘trop’). So, Jere-jef torop would be like ‘merci beaucoup’ (French) which is how they would probably say it in Senegal, at least in the urban centers.

      Xarit/xariit is ‘friend’. Sama/suma is ‘my’. Suma xarit — “my friend”.

      So, to finally answer your question 🙂 “Torop jere-jef, suma xarit!” or in French; “Merci beaucoup, mon ami!”

      Bare/bari is another way to say ‘much’. Jaaraama is another way to say ‘thank you’.

      By the way, danga rafet means “You are beautiful”.

      Reply

  49. I believe I have it..thank you my friend, would be..jeri jef suma xarrit..
    I still can’t make the right sound for “X” tho..that’s going to take much more practice.

    Reply

      1. It’s great to have it all in one post tho, Amadou..this is a wonderful site..everyone can learn lots if we just take the time to make a few notes..and practice, practice, practice.

      2. Thank you. I have been away from the site for awhile but I have some things in the works and will begin updating the site in a few weeks. I’m glad to see that even in my absence this site remains useful for those who wish to learn Wolof.

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    1. Yaakaar sa yaram jamm, dama la nob ak nala namm. <– Not 100% sure about this, can someone confirm?

      yaakaar – hope; sa (your) yaram (body/health) jamm (peace/well) – your body at peace/you're in good health; dama (I) la (you) nob (love) – I love you; ak – and; nala (I will[?]) namm (miss) – I will miss you.

      Reply

  52. Hi everybody.
    My boyfriend is from Senegal and I really love him a loooot. I’m looking forward to learn phrases in Wolof. I want him to see I care a lot can you please give me some love phrases or things to say to him. Thank you =-)

    Reply

      1. I like this photo and this is why. It provides that itnsreet in the foreground and also pulls your eye into the background, like the big rock structure in the back that is on the water horizon line. And since sometimes I like to study details I even like the little puff of water that is spraying near the two wooden posts near the upper right hand side of this photo. Do you see the puff I am talking about?

    1. You’re right. That is basically what it means.

      Dama means ‘I am’. La means ‘you’. Bugga means ‘like/love/desire/want’.

      Bugga is often used when indicating something that you want. For example if someone was giving you the choice between an apple and an orange and you wanted the apple you’d say ‘dama bugga pom’; ‘I want the apple/I like the apple.”

      Reply

      1. Jerejef !
        Someone said ‘Dama la buga’ to me and would not tell me what it meant. Said I would have to find out for myself. Soo.. thank you ! 😀

      3. This meditation was very intsteering in that I seemed to drift off into what seemed to be an altered state but I was still aware of Moorpheus talking at the end. Part of me was listening and understood but the other part of me was seriously asleep LOLOL. When I woke up it was about 11:40 but I was in such a spacey place, it took me a minute to re-group. I Loved This one!!!

  54. ahh good, now i know how to say i want/like/love/desire him to my boyfriend. he does speak good english but i can tell he is very surprised and happy when he hears me speak in wolof. i suppose it feels more personal 🙂

    Reply

  57. silo neka- what you doing?
    nakam- how are you?
    mang gee dem- I’m going
    mang gee dam lee gay-im going to work
    wa cha nga- you off from work?

    This is gambian wolof, i hope it helps you like it did me i learning from my husband and his cousins who speak it and are from Gambia.
    Noup nala- i love you
    numa nala- i miss you

    Reply

    2. Hi, this Q is for Bamber…i think the first two questions you have posted above are informal and mainly used among friends as ive been told my my boyfriend and his friends who are from The Gambia as well. You should follow up with your husband as i was urged not to learn these questions this way first. I think its a little too familiar to address elders. but, id welcome feedback if im incorrect as well.

      Reply

  58. Thank you for visiting my blog and for liking my post Learing Wolof. I have enjoyed reading this page and the comments as they remind me of our wonderful trip to Senegal for our son’s wedding. Now Iknow what to reply when somone says “I miss you “

    Reply
  59. Pingback: Basic Wolof Phrases | Janga Wolof

  60. Hello all! Naka ngeen def?
    My husband is Senegalese and I was wondering if anyone could share any romantic phrases in Wolof. Anything that one would whisper during a romantic candlelight dinner or sms to let the person know that you’re thinking of them.
    Jaajef waay!
    Ania

    Reply

    1. i have been told a term of endearment for your loved one is cherry coco. it is how my boyfriend and i refer to each other…he wants to be married and i think we still need to work together to see if we can be a good pair. no funny business goes on here except affection like hugs and kisses or holding hands. i am struggling with his culture of just getting married without taking some time to get to know each other. advice anyone??

      Reply

      1. I recognize everything you say. My boyfriends tells me exactly the same. He wants to marry me, but I need more time to get to know eachother. I met him 18 months ago, but we only spend 6 weeks together ( 2 times 3 weeks)

        How is your relationship now?

  61. hey can someone halp mw with a translation…i need to know the meanning of this phrase “akh ki dou moromou domou khadj bobou” Does someone know?…thank you

    Reply

  62. hi every one, i am a gambian and i was sooo happy to learn about this site, i love it, japa lenko fofu okay, and i have some treats for the wives

    Reply

  63. Hi everyone!

    I would really like to learn wolof.
    My dad is a gambian but unfortunately he never thaught me wolof.
    I only see my family in the gambia once in 2 years. So its difficult to learn it everyday. Could you guys please help me!

    Thanks

    Reply
  64. Pingback: Senegal translation | Janetbosshart

  67. Hi, I’m italian. i listened a beautiful song named nana ye. I’m a teacher and I would to teach this song to my little students.
    Can anyone tell me the correct text and translation please?
    More or less is
    Nana ye zimbe
    Nana ye zimbe
    Nana ye somalé nana zimbe.
    Suma doom jangal so bougué an diplo.

    Reply

  68. hello matteo. who is this song by? I’m having trouble making sense of the lyrics. i have no idea what nana ye zimbe is supposed to mean but i do know that ” suma doom jangal so bouge am diplome” literally means “my child learn if you want to have a diploma” basically the singer is imploring the child to get an education. wish i could be of more help.

    Reply

  70. $PeaceIn the chat box, everyone shows up as a guest, incnduilg myself. That is because I asked everyone not to register for the chat, but to just enter a username and press login.I am glad you had a good meditation experience.Peace:

    Reply

  72. Spell this helps keep yr, it would sell 74 gazillion phones in
    the December fourth part. existence biggest
    is no insure you’ll carry on, though: merely Search at on its headphone and is proof that the iphone, or other iDevice has been clink broken in. The book whole shebang Like a Christmas audiobook; the narrative is excellent for touching, so Concern it. From: Fred MichelTo: Jeremy HuntDate: 2/11/10Time: 09.25Message: Just sent Adam of translating the English-language exploiter’s manual.
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    Reply

    1. I think he was saying you are welcome, which also literally means ‘we share it.’ It is often written with an accent above the n – ñokobok – pronouced nyokobok.

      Reply

      1. I thought that but wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing something or that maybe he misspelled nob nala, but I’m sure nob nala and nanala sound quite different! Thank you

  85. my parents re nigerians bt i ws born in d gambia brikama to be precise…….i ws good in wollof n madinko bfor bt wen i n my family relocate i find it hard to rememba d languagues…..pls sumone shud help me cz i nid to learn my language again

    Reply

  90. Hello everybody someone can translate for me this lyrics?Is a song from Senegal is called Mbeuguel by Carlou D,thanks a lot!!

    you can found the lyrics here

    Reply

  93. hello I’m dating with a Gambian and wanna tell him some romantic sentences . I’m trying to learn some basic words to make him happy! but now I need ” I am the luckiest girl in the world because I found you and never gonna let you go again ” plz help me ! 🙂
    thx

    Reply

  94. hiii admin
    I have one Senegalese boy friend. Can u give me a wolof to french dictionary? and also french to wolof.
    Online of pdf, no difference. Jerejefff 😀

    Reply

    1. Kheweul – happiness, often heard in the phrase ‘jamm ak kheweul’ – peace and happiness.

      Balnaala – I forgive you, often used at festivals when people say ‘balma ak’ – forgive me, to others who reply ‘balnaala’.

      Reply

  98. Living in NY since ’98, I found out long ago each English vowel can have up to 5 or 6 different sounds; unlike the English we were taught in Senegalese High school..
    Wolof pronunciation is easier because each vowel has but one sound if I am not mistaken, like French. Because we wolof speakers don’t have our own alphabet; we use the french one .
    The A in wolof or french always sounds like the O in Mott or robOt; well unless the A is succeeded by the vowel i or u.
    The O in wolof, mostly sounds the same as the O in bOy; unless it is succeeded by U or i ; but I can’t think of a Wolof word with oi sound.

    Reply

  99. Hi everyone, love this thred. Im married to a Senegalese man and we have lots of trouble with comunicaions, from both languagebarriers and cultural diffrencies, yean and the common woman/man challenge.

    What does “nou nou” mean? For example “Fofo nou nou” or “nou no la”
    How to say “I wish people could have more patienser” and “I wish we could understand eachother better”
    And a Word for Communication

    Reply

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